Build an Underground Container Shelter

You do not have to be paranoid or frenzied to feel scared and under a reasonable threat today – problematic weather conditions, meteorological disasters, climate changes and all sorts of deranged extraordinary situations are right around the corner, lurking every single day. Earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, tropical cyclones and tornadoes – not to mention wars and threats to national security – are appearing more often than ever, pressuring you to find an escape place and a hiding technique for yourself and your family. Since not everyone can reach public shelters in time, the popularity of private underground container shelters is peaking, so here a couple of ideas and hints that might assist you in creating one.

Assessing the SiteImagine building a house in a swamp area or a residential building in the middle of an urban open space planned for a park – it is highly improbable and quite impossible to happen, due to various reasons. If the land is not the right quality or if it is not ready to house a huge structure, you will fail spectacularly trying to build something on it. Moreover, without checking the site for the structure, you cannot even start thinking about the project.

While shelters do not always have to be underground – many are in certain buildings or even in a mountainous road tunnel – they usually are due to obvious positive sides of this solution. With hiding under the ground, the chances of something actually happening to you are much smaller, but when building your own shelter, you have to pay attention to the quality of your back yard soil, where you will put an entrance and how deep you want the structure to be.

Inspecting the ContainerIf you intend to turn a shipping container into an underground shelter, you have to be sure that the container you use is good enough to become a shelter. Namely, it has to be reinforced and in almost perfect state and shape – you do not want a nearly destroyed or corrupted structure protecting your from a weather disaster or a nuclear threat.

Therefore, inspecting your container before placing it into the ground is essential, claim highly-rated suppliers of container shelters, in order to do the job right. Yes, they are weather resistant and can last for decades – but that is above the ground! Under it, just one small crack will allow water to collect and ultimately destroy the walls of an unprotected container over time.

attribution - Jo & Joey on flickr.com/creativecommons

Steps to TakeIn the end, after all preparations, cautions, plans and designs, building an underground container shelter can actually begin! Once you assemble your crew, gather the tools and materials, completing this project should really be not that difficult. Of course, you can decide on a pole-covered trench shelter, but building one out of a container is much easier and time-saving, and even provides better results and higher security.

The first thing you need to do is dig a hole large enough for the container and reinforce the sides to prevent collapsing due to the pressure. There are several options and choosing between bricks or cement, on one hand, or wooden frame, on the other, does not make much difference, as long as it is done right. After that, you can place the container into the trench and complete the project.

BenefitsShipping containers are, in short, built to last and endure the harshest rain, the strongest winds and the longest winters. Moreover, their walls are already additionally reinforced by default and provide all the security you need should the occasion arise, so you will not only feel secure, but also be completely safe.